Are We Social Distancing Enough in the Sandhills? Google Helps Us Find Out
Coronavirus has impacted every aspect of all of our lives. But just how seriously are we taking social distancing in Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the rest of the Sandhills region? If the data Google released today is any indication, it’s a mixed bag in our area.
Google announced today that it has released the “COVID-19 Community Mobility Report,” to help individuals and government officials understand whether people are paying much attention to social distancing.
Here’s how it works to measure social distancing in Fayetteville: Because our mobile devices generally always have location services turned on, Google is able to get a general picture of where people are going. This is why you’re able to see specific ads delivered to your phone based on stores you might go to, or other things you might be doing. In this case, Google has taken all that information and combined everyone in a particular area together to see what their habits have been since officials started recommending we socially distance, and stay at home.
“Location accuracy and the understanding of categorized places varies from region to region, so we don’t recommend using this data to compare changes between countries, or between regions with different characteristics (e.g. rural versus urban areas),” Google said in the report. So basically, don’t compare what’s happening in New York City to what might be happening in Bladen County. It’s just not the same.
So what’s happened with social distancing in Fayetteville and our region? Let’s take a look (You can view the North Carolina county-by-county report by clicking here if you’d like):
North Carolina
- RETAIL & RECREATION: First, in North Carolina as a whole, people are doing about 40 percent LESS retail and recreation-related travel. That’s things like restaurants, shopping centers, museums, movie theaters, etc.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: When it comes to grocery and pharmacy shopping, North Carolinians are doing about 15 percent LESS travel than normal. It’s notable that there was a big spike ABOVE normal from around March 8-22. No doubt as people started going out to get more supplies as they got ready to shelter in place.
- PARKS: What about people going to parks and beaches, etc. Well, in NC, people are going about 13 percent MORE to these places than normal.
- WORKPLACES: And how about workplaces in NC? No surprise that with most people having to be home now, travel to workplaces is DOWN about 35 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: No shock, people are traveling to places of residence about 10 percent MORE now. The number is likely not higher because most people are just there already and not having to travel.
- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN: This generally means a good chunk of people are taking this seriously in the state of North Carolina, but there’s probably still a bit too much out and about going on. That’s why we’re seeing increased measures being put in place on the statewide Stay At Home order.
Cumberland County
- RETAIL & RECREATION: We’re doing 31 percent LESS than normal on this travel here. That’s higher than the NC number, but also not substantially different. And it’s MUCH lower than normal in the last week or so.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: Groceries are still important, and we’re only about 11 percent less than normal here. We also didn’t see quite as big a spike as the rest of the state average.
- PARKS: Cumberland County residents are going to parks about 18 percent MORE to than normal. And while this number plummeted around March 22, it’s gone right back up again.
- WORKPLACES: We’re right in line with the state here, as travel to workplaces is DOWN about 34 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: And travel to residences about 8 percent MORE now.
- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN: We probably need to take it a little more seriously in Cumberland County. There’s a lot of interacting going on still and some of that can be attributed to retail and restaurants being such a large part of our economy.
Robeson County
- RETAIL & RECREATION: Folks in Lumberton and the area are doing 27 percent less of this than normal. Probably not as low as it should be.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: Very minimal dip from normal happening right now in Robeson County. Only 3 percent less than what typically happens. Be careful folks.
- PARKS: There wasn’t enough data for Google to measure this one.
- WORKPLACES: We’re seeing travel to workplaces is DOWN about 26 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: And travel to residences about 6 percent MORE now.
- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN: Impacts have been minimal in Robeson County so far, which is great. But if things do get worse, we’ll likely need to see a lot more social distancing happening.
Harnett County
- RETAIL & RECREATION: Folks in Harnett County are doing 23 percent less of this than normal.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: Only 3 percent less than what typically happens. Be careful folks.
- PARKS: There wasn’t enough data for Google to measure this one.
- WORKPLACES: We’re seeing travel to workplaces is DOWN about 32 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: And travel to residences about 8 percent MORE now.
- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN: Again, we’ll probably want to see more happening in Harnett County if things get worse. Make sure to practice as much social distancing as is possible!
